La Verne "Sparky" Svien

La Verne W. "Sparky" Svien, 82, of Cedar Falls, died Sunday, January 12, 2014, at Unity Point Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. He was born June 5, 1931 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the son of Inez Svien. La Verne married Helen Truman in November of 1975. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman Gunners Mate on the light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-119) during the Korean War. La Verne worked at the Cedar Falls Utilities for forty-three years, the longest employment there at the time of his retirement. He was a lifetime member of Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49. Survivors include his wife, Helen Svien, of Cedar Falls; his daughter, Barbara (Brian) Bond, of Maude, Oklahoma; his step daughter, Nancy (Duane) Wedemeier, of Waterloo; three grandsons; two step grandchildren, and five step great grandchildren. LaVerne was preceded in death by his mother and two sons, Steve and David Svien. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens in Cedar Falls. Military honors will be conducted by Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49. Visitation will be 57:00 p.m. Tuesday at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls. Memorials may be directed to the family.